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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.** – Tom Coughlin wants the Giants to focus on preparing for the San Francisco 49ers and ignore the potential distractions outside the team's tight circle.

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"We spent an awful lot of time talking this morning about standing tall and the attitude not being affected by the outside," Coughlin said, "but rather the feeling of oneness on the inside and the fact that we have a lot of games to go and the fact that we need to play four solid quarters and we need to overcome some things that all of sudden have been a difficulty for us as if the bottom was going to fall because one bad thing happened. We talked a lot about that today, and hopefully the players are going to deal with that in the right way."

The Giants will try to break their four-game losing streak when they host the 49ers on Sunday. They should get a tangible boost in their offensive backfield with the return of leading rusher Rashad Jennings, who missed each of those four games with a sprained knee he suffered on Oct. 5 vs. Atlanta.

"He will give our team an outstanding lift," Coughlin said. "He will practice – the term is going to be limited, but we had him in that capacity a week ago. We selectively worked him. We thought that he did well under those circumstances a week ago, and I think we will progress throughout the course of this week, and hopefully without a setback, now he will be ready to go."

*Linebacker Jacquian Williams, who has 16 more tackles than anyone else on the team, and running back Peyton Hillis, have concussions. Asked about their condition, Coughlin said, "Not good. (They) are both still under doctor supervision. They were sent home today.

"You are in a position week in and week out where you have to deal with the injuries and who can go and who can't go. We will do the same thing this week. This is our team. Guys have to step up."

*Coughlin said defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka (knee) will practice either Wednesdays or Thursdays, but not both. Another end, Damontre Moore, will miss practice today with a shoulder injury, but should work tomorrow.

Also on the preliminary injury report are safety Nat Berhe (ankle), tight end Daniel Fells (neck), defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (calf) and Jennings.

*Coughlin said guard Geoff Schwartz will is "going to get a lot of work this week. We have until next Monday to make that call. His activity has increased and we'll do the same thing this week."

Schwartz is on injured reserve/designated for return with a toe injury.